Figure 5.
Betulinic acid inhibits lipid accumulation in the liver of DIO C57BL/6J mice. Obese C57BL/6J mice were fed a HFD in the presence and absence of betulinic acid (100 mg·kg−1·day−1) for 6 weeks. (a) The livers from mice were harvested and stained with HE and Oil Red O, and the total NAFLD activity score (NAS) is shown. Scale bars, 100 μm. (b, c) Hepatic TG (b) and TC (c) of chow mice and HFD‐fed mice in the presence or absence of betulinic acid (n = 6 per group). (d, e) Serum ALT and AST activity. (f–i) Relative mRNA expression of FXR signalling associated with hepatic inflammatory factors (f), hepatic nuclear receptor metabolism (h), hepatic glycolipid metabolic genes (i), and Shp in the ileum (g) from DIO mice with or without betulinic acid treating were analysed. (j) Protein levels in the livers were analysed by immunoblotting. The relative protein level was shown. β‐Actin was used as an control for normalizing the mRNA and protein levels. Data are statistically analysed as means ± SEM (n = 6). *P < 0.05 versus chow or HF group. ND: Not detected